This has been an on & off topic for a very long time. Thought I should give a little session about the swapping cpu heat-sinks for Dell’s XPS 630i stock mobo

1) After you remove the motherboard from the case, the very first thing you want to do is, measure from the center of the cpu location to the bottom of the motherboard (Dimension A). Now be aware…there is a distance of 1/4 inches from the bottom edge of the motherboard to the floor of the case (Dimension B). You should add the 1/4 inches to the Dimension A. Now you have the actual distance from the center of the cpu location to the floor of the case (Dimension C).

2) Now that has been explained, here are actual dimensions from the stock 630i mobo from my case. Dimension A is approximately 2 inches or 50.8mm. Dimension C (Dimension A + Dimension B) = 2 1/4 inches or 57.15mm.

3)Dimension D is the center of the cpu location to the northbridge heat-sink, which is approximately 2 inches or 50.8mm.

4)Dimension E is the center of the cpu placement to the heat-sink (opposite side of memory slots), which is approximately 2 1/4 inches or 57.15mm.

5)Dimension F is the center of the cpu location to the memory slot #1, which is approximately 3 1/4 inches or 82.55mm.

6)The diagram below will continue to illustrate the dimensions in plan and elevation regarding to the cpu location and the northbridge heatsink.

7)Now, if you have taken the proper time to review the image of the stock 630i mobo, you should have a good understanding on how to size the heatsink you want to use.

8)Based on the diagram, you are absolutely safe if the heat-sink’s width is not wider than 4 inches or 101.6mm.

9) The maximum width the heat-sink can be is 4 1/4 inches or 107.95mm but there is a catch…If you look at the elevation diagram, you will see the dimensions for the northbridge heat-sink. The bottom of the heat-sink must clear the lowest height of the northbridge heat-sink (1 1/8 inches or 28.57mm from the surface of mobo). I only referring to the lowest height of the northbridge heat-sink because currently there are no heat-sinks that will clear the maximum height of the northbridge heat-sink. If so, the heat-sink is probably too tall for the case and will eventually obstruct the panel door from closing.

10) On the elevation diagram, you should also see the cpu (actually cpu socket). When determining if the bottom of the heat-sink’s heat-spreader can clear the lowest height of the northbridge heat-sink, add the height of the cpu/cpu socket.

11) Now if you find a heat-sink that will fit (width-wise) but does not clear the lowest height of the northbridge heat-sink, you always have the option to swap the northbridge heat-sink for another type that will allow the cpu heat-sink to fit properly.

12) If you do not mind swapping the northbridge heat-sink, I only recommend this http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... &CatId=498 I’ve used this on quite a few mobos and was always please by its performance. There are other cooling chipset heat-sinks out there so just search with Google.

13)Maximum height of heat-sink that can fit inside 630i case is 160mm. Be cautious with that height. For some cpu heat-sinks with that height might require a slight modification to the panel door latch depending on the placement of the tips of the heatpipes.

14) Be aware of the latch on the panel door. Some cpu heat-sinks can have heat-pipes that are placed differently from other heat-sinks. This can clash with the hook-latch on the panel door.

15)Lastly…Please do not take these dimensions and buy a heat-sink assuming it will fit because I had provided a diagram with dimensions. Just because we all have or had the same stock mobos does not mean the inside dimensions are 100% exactly the same. VERIFY YOUR DIMENSIONS ON YOUR MOBO!!!The slightest 1/16 of an inch off can cause a ton of hell.

16)I TAKE NO RESPONSIBILTY FOR ANYONE DAMAGING THEIR MOBO OR ANY PART OF THEIR SYSTEM. THIS INFO IS TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND AND ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU TO BECOME MORE FAMILIAR WITH YOUR PC

ATTENTION:Lines 1, 3, 5, and 9 were edited to reflect the diagram. I apologize for the confusion

HERE ARE (4) THIRD-PARTY HEATSINKS TO CONSIDER USING AND WILL FIT ON THE STOCK 630I MOBO:

Xigmatek HDT SD964 (can use 2 fans for push/pull cooling)Xigmatek HDT NepartakNoctua NH-U9DXZalman CNPS9700 NT LED (this is the widest heatsink that will fit but will have to file the heatspreaders in order to fit properly)

HERE ARE (2) THIRD-PARTY HEATSINKS TO CONSIDER USING AND WILL FIT ON THE STOCK 630I MOBO BASED ON DIMENSIONS BUT MUST VERIFY NORTHBRIDGE HEATSINK CLEARANCE:

Wow, lots of good information. Seems that anything with a 120mm fan is out. Though you should be pretty safe with one that uses a 92mm fan (like the stock one has).

I honestly can't tell you if the Xig Dark Knight fits on the stock 630i mobo (really, I do not believe it will fit unless someone has one and can show a pic)...However, I had responded on your previous post, recommending what would be some good heatsinks for the stock 630i mobo...heatsink-upgrade-vigor-monsoon-t2643.html

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